Great video. I bought one Monday, it will be on the front doorstep when I get home from work tonight. So excited! Thank you for being a part of my decision-making process. Cheers
Very cool, I have a Kona Process 153 and just got a 5010. I'm leaning towards keeping both because the 5010 is incredibly fun but the Process can just plow and give so much confidence on descents!
Dude I too have a Kona Process 153 and this is the bike I'm looking to switch to. Thanks for this awesome review. I think for my trails and the type of riding I do this will be perfect.
+Steve Smith Thanks! I feel like I pretty much suck at making these vids. haha. I like watching reviews though, so hopefully this vid is in some way helpful..
+1Life Also very interested in your bronson review. im stuck trying to decide on a 5010 or a bronson. would love to hear your thoughts. sure the bronson will feel more plush and better for aggressive downhill, but i get the feeling that the bronson might feel a little dead on anything but the most aggressive stuff.
I've just got a 2016 'solo' but I'm running a 140mm pike upfront. Test rode the bronson as well but thought the 5010 was more playful. Thing manuals like a bmx! Previous bike was 160mm nukeproof mega which I though was overkill for the uk and made rides boring as it had no 'pop' and bulldozed everything. Cool review
I like the that you don't wear all the designer mtb clothes just cool man ! Sweet video ! I just wasted £3250 on a Hightower size M , it's so small I hate it and now I'm trying to sell it to get the 5010 👍🏽👍🏽
Good review. You should do some more reviews of other bikes. I have a Gen 1 Solo. Great bike for aggressive XC and intermediate trails but the super low BB was a problem with me too. I got better over time but it never stopped being an issue. The 5010 is the perfect multi-use bike. Good at everything but not great at anything.
I agree this is not an Enduro bike but I have raced a Solo/5010 on aggressive XC courses and man does it shred compared to those steep hard-tailed 29ers and climbs well as well. Did a 72 mile race on primitive MTB trails and the Solo/5010 was the perfect choice.
Great review as I am currently torn between this sweet 5010 and the Bronson both 2016s at the moment. I find the Bronson to be a bit sluggish on uphills. I am also a fan of the Kona process 134, any thoughts and comparison with the 5010?
Had a chance to demo several bikes recently and this bike and the specialized camber was pedal strike prone. Also, the 5010 was not as nimble and playful as a lot of reviews have suggested. Not easy to pull the front end up when needed. Wanted to love this bike but didn't have the same experience as others
Nice review! Luge? I currently have the 16 Bronson love it!, was between the 5010 and Bronson, agree the 5010 feels a bit more like a BMX which is awesome
I love this review. Have you tried the Hightower? Seems like a good middle ground between the 5010 and the bronson. I, too, am coming from an XC background. But, looking for a 40/60 trail bike. Been eyeballing the Hightower for quite some time. Would love to hear an honest opinion if you have tried it.
Thanks! I haven't tried the Hightower. It looks awesome though! Try to demo it before you buy it, if you can. That's the best way to find out what it's like.
I may have to take that advice. "The Path" bike shop in that neck of the woods has the 3 bikes that I want to demo: Hightower, Spider, and Tracer. No where better to try them all out then the Luge!
I rode Hightower this summer. It did great on downhills but climbing was significantly harder than 5010. I also demoed Bronson. Bronson was in the middle between Hightower and 5010. It did not climb as well as 5010 and was closer but a little easier than Hightower. It was great going down plush and forgiving. The same can be said about Hightower. Due to 27 size wheels Bronson felt a little more nimble. 5010 felt more rigid on the descents. All in all I felt like for a person that climbs for descents Bronson and Hightower are the ticket. For a person that loves climbs and then has a decent time coming down 5010 is the way to go. For me I still can't decide where I am on that spectrum.
+Brian Booth Thanks! They're Forte pedals. They get the job done.. but I recently demoed the Crank Brother Double Shot pedals, and those are better. I'd check those out, if you interested.
+Mike Peacock Yeah.. I was trying to make the bike as plush as my Process 153.. which isn't really fair, as they're very different bikes (130mm vs 153/160mm travel). Putting more air into the shocks would probably stop pedal strikes and bottoming out, but at the cost of more suppleness :( I was probably asking too much of the bike in that department. Also, I only had it for one day, so I didn't have the needed time to really dial in the bike and see what it's capable of.
1Life Probably just needs some volume reducers front and rear. Also, the 5010 is better off with a 140mm fork. Santa Cruz got ever so slightly carried away with the short reach, short wheelbase numbers on this bike. The large is the most medium-est large I've demo'd.
Did you have the shock set to "open" or "firm" on that climb when you say it feels like a hardtail? My 2014 CTD shock feels way too soft even on the "climb" setting and I'm thinking about replacing it.
+1Life I have riden the 2016 5010 I thought it climbed very well but going down wasn't that great it might be hard to find a bike that is both good going up as well as down
+1Life I have riden the 2016 5010 I thought it climbed very well but going down wasn't that great it might be hard to find a bike that is both good going up as well as down
I JUST bought this exact bike , are used to have a high tower and now I have the 5010 mL and I absolutely hate it it's horrible it's uncomfortable it tries to throw you off the suspension is way too hard it's no good I have a big bumps over a small jumps it gets very out of control and it's just horrible I can't wait to sell it and get Hightower this bike is like not good at anything it might be okay and everything but it's not good for anything👍🏽
I really like video reviews like this. Riding with commentary, thoughts by an intelligent human, etc. Subscribed!
+Hollis Prince Thanks for the kind words, and the Sub! I'll try to get some more videos up soon.
Great video. I bought one Monday, it will be on the front doorstep when I get home from work tonight. So excited! Thank you for being a part of my decision-making process. Cheers
Thanks! Oh man, you're in for serious good times. Such an awesome bike! Enjoy. Glad I could help.
Very cool, I have a Kona Process 153 and just got a 5010. I'm leaning towards keeping both because the 5010 is incredibly fun but the Process can just plow and give so much confidence on descents!
Really like your reviews and comments man,, keep it up!!
Thanks man! I'll try to upload some more stuff soon.
Not even dude. Any review is a good review. It's all good info and more people should take the time to do these- me included
Dude I too have a Kona Process 153 and this is the bike I'm looking to switch to. Thanks for this awesome review. I think for my trails and the type of riding I do this will be perfect.
Nice video. I love the commentary. Im looking forward to a video of the Bronson.
Great review dude! Keep them coming! And keep shredding!
+Steve Smith Thanks! I feel like I pretty much suck at making these vids. haha. I like watching reviews though, so hopefully this vid is in some way helpful..
Great review! I just put together my 2017 5010 tonight. Can't wait
Great video! Looking forward to your first impressions on the Bronson ;)
+Mr.BadassProductions Thanks man! I'll post a video as soon as I can get my hands on one.
+Mr.BadassProductions Looks like I'll have one to try, two weeks from now!
+1Life awesome!
+1Life Also very interested in your bronson review. im stuck trying to decide on a 5010 or a bronson. would love to hear your thoughts. sure the bronson will feel more plush and better for aggressive downhill, but i get the feeling that the bronson might feel a little dead on anything but the most aggressive stuff.
+Darren Klug I have the 2016 Bronson booked for this Saturday! Yes, it'll no doubt be more plush, but at what cost, right?
What a beautiful machine, I can just imagine how it rides
I have the superlight, but ILL be checking out the 5010 for my next ride. Great review. thanks :-)
+Tina Zou Thanks! I think you'll like it, It's a great bike. Let me know what you think!
I love my 5010, I replaced the stem with 50mm and raised the fork to 140mm and it feels more balanced than it's stock form
I've just got a 2016 'solo' but I'm running a 140mm pike upfront. Test rode the bronson as well but thought the 5010 was more playful. Thing manuals like a bmx! Previous bike was 160mm nukeproof mega which I though was overkill for the uk and made rides boring as it had no 'pop' and bulldozed everything. Cool review
+0kojack0 Thanks! I also thought the 5010 felt BMX like. It's really stiff and poppy, a very fun bike!
0kojack0 I just bought the 5010 cc .... I hate it man it sucks at everything 😢😢😢
I like the that you don't wear all the designer mtb clothes just cool man ! Sweet video ! I just wasted £3250 on a Hightower size M , it's so small I hate it and now I'm trying to sell it to get the 5010 👍🏽👍🏽
Yep I subscribed too 👍🏽
Good review. You should do some more reviews of other bikes. I have a Gen 1 Solo. Great bike for aggressive XC and intermediate trails but the super low BB was a problem with me too. I got better over time but it never stopped being an issue. The 5010 is the perfect multi-use bike. Good at everything but not great at anything.
+TheJoncic Thanks! I plan on doing some more reviews next month. That's exactly what the Solo felt like, an "aggressive XC" bike. Well put!
I agree this is not an Enduro bike but I have raced a Solo/5010 on aggressive XC courses and man does it shred compared to those steep hard-tailed 29ers and climbs well as well. Did a 72 mile race on primitive MTB trails and the Solo/5010 was the perfect choice.
Great on the trail review!! real life experience
I have this bike and agree with you, not a very descender.
+Wisnu Adilaksana Thanks! That means a lot, coming from someone who owns the bike!! Cheers.
Great review as I am currently torn between this sweet 5010 and the Bronson both 2016s at the moment. I find the Bronson to be a bit sluggish on uphills.
I am also a fan of the Kona process 134, any thoughts and comparison with the 5010?
Had a chance to demo several bikes recently and this bike and the specialized camber was pedal strike prone. Also, the 5010 was not as nimble and playful as a lot of reviews have suggested. Not easy to pull the front end up when needed. Wanted to love this bike but didn't have the same experience as others
Nice review! Luge? I currently have the 16 Bronson love it!, was between the 5010 and Bronson, agree the 5010 feels a bit more like a BMX which is awesome
I love this review. Have you tried the Hightower? Seems like a good middle ground between the 5010 and the bronson. I, too, am coming from an XC background. But, looking for a 40/60 trail bike. Been eyeballing the Hightower for quite some time. Would love to hear an honest opinion if you have tried it.
Thanks! I haven't tried the Hightower. It looks awesome though! Try to demo it before you buy it, if you can. That's the best way to find out what it's like.
I may have to take that advice. "The Path" bike shop in that neck of the woods has the 3 bikes that I want to demo: Hightower, Spider, and Tracer. No where better to try them all out then the Luge!
I rode Hightower this summer. It did great on downhills but climbing was significantly harder than 5010. I also demoed Bronson. Bronson was in the middle between Hightower and 5010. It did not climb as well as 5010 and was closer but a little easier than Hightower. It was great going down plush and forgiving. The same can be said about Hightower. Due to 27 size wheels Bronson felt a little more nimble. 5010 felt more rigid on the descents. All in all I felt like for a person that climbs for descents Bronson and Hightower are the ticket. For a person that loves climbs and then has a decent time coming down 5010 is the way to go. For me I still can't decide where I am on that spectrum.
Nice review!...What pedals are those? I'm looking for a 50/50 like that. Do you like them?
+Brian Booth Thanks! They're Forte pedals. They get the job done.. but I recently demoed the Crank Brother Double Shot pedals, and those are better. I'd check those out, if you interested.
Bottoming out the shock and pedal strikes, need more air!!
+Mike Peacock Yeah.. I was trying to make the bike as plush as my Process 153.. which isn't really fair, as they're very different bikes (130mm vs 153/160mm travel). Putting more air into the shocks would probably stop pedal strikes and bottoming out, but at the cost of more suppleness :( I was probably asking too much of the bike in that department. Also, I only had it for one day, so I didn't have the needed time to really dial in the bike and see what it's capable of.
1Life Probably just needs some volume reducers front and rear. Also, the 5010 is better off with a 140mm fork.
Santa Cruz got ever so slightly carried away with the short reach, short wheelbase numbers on this bike.
The large is the most medium-est large I've demo'd.
if you dont mind me asking, Can park on the side of the road when riding Luge? I Want to avoid parking at Cooks Corner
+raul medina I think it's okay. I see other cars parked there on the weekend.. and I don't see any signs that say you can't park there.
Did you have the shock set to "open" or "firm" on that climb when you say it feels like a hardtail? My 2014 CTD shock feels way too soft even on the "climb" setting and I'm thinking about replacing it.
While in lockout, it felt like a hard tail
Yup, replace it with the DPS.
Hey how is the Santa Cruz 5010 vs the pivot mach 6 I'm looking to buy a bike and not sure how they compare also looking at the specialized enduro
Hey man! I've never ridden the Pivot.. or a new Enduro. All these bikes are great though. Wish I could help more.
+1Life I have riden the 2016 5010 I thought it climbed very well but going down wasn't that great it might be hard to find a bike that is both good going up as well as down
+1Life I have riden the 2016 5010 I thought it climbed very well but going down wasn't that great it might be hard to find a bike that is both good going up as well as down
I JUST bought this exact bike , are used to have a high tower and now I have the 5010 mL and I absolutely hate it it's horrible it's uncomfortable it tries to throw you off the suspension is way too hard it's no good I have a big bumps over a small jumps it gets very out of control and it's just horrible I can't wait to sell it and get Hightower this bike is like not good at anything it might be okay and everything but it's not good for anything👍🏽